Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-03

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a
service in the main hall, much to Tux
amusement OF Stella, who, ia spite Of hel
recent adventure, seemed now free iron
alarm. she, too, was armed, and, being
by the size of her father and apparently
so fearless, dill much to encourage the
servants TO resistance. Mrs. DelOrme
had been Ill eVec since the appearance OF
her brother, end vas confined u bel
room.
Paul had volunteered to c0mmaad il
the defense of the gaze and observe the
movements If the Indians.
Night came on, and soon various bright
fires, IN different directions, showed thal
the Indians were using everything which
they could find cOmbustjbla - make llght
10 work Dy. soon rafting IRE from the
direction Cs the gate told that some Of
them had come within range Of Paups
position, and MIR. DelOrme went out to
lock 1T the state Of matters il that quar-
yer.
Stella, though he begged her to stay,
would rot leave his side, ana with MN
assembled into the small tower, where
Paul, the four Texans and q dozen or more
blacks were engaged in sending leaden
presents among large band Of the red
hends who had made determined effort
to reach the gate.
"SOme one must lead them who kHOws
that this IS our weakest point, sir" said
Paul to Mr.. Delorme. They MAKE no
effort anywhere else"
eyes, my lad, yes. They have prob
ABLY some OF the hslf-breeds with them
that | sent away. But il is all the better
for Us if they C0utlue their attack to one
point; we have not got to divide our
forces. Major Mccullough will be on
hand before daylight, and his rangers
will now them down faster than my
hands can cut cane. Halo! what's that?
An alarm from the house, as sure as
liye!-firing there by all that's merciful!
The devils have got ovet the wall some
where. l must get back"
"For heavens sake, stay where you
are, sir!" said Paul, grasping the arm of
the excited planter. "Tney will inter-
cept and murder you on the way. You
and Miss Stella are safer here; and l will
defend you while there is drop of blood
in my body. See. there goes fire into
the sugar house; and the negro quarters
are slight already"
"They viii ruin me-" groaned the
plan'er
"Mahoney is giving them fts," said
Paul. clear his musket give tongue.
He will defend the mansion"
"Perhaps so-if they don't set it on
fire, tool" said Mr.. DelOrme, dejectedly.
they bargained for; they've let the cattle
~
will raise mischief among them"
The scene now, though terrible, was
grand. The Out-buildings,
and stCrehOuses were all IL
flames, and threw light as clear as day
upon all within the great enclosure. Half
naked savages running here and there;
horses and cattle, maddened with fear,
rushing and plungjng about, believing
aud neighing; the Indians yelling and
screaming, and the rafting fire from
MahOney's irregulars in the hOuse-aIl
combined to effect terrific picture.
AMI those who were in the little tower
gazed upon it until they we're aroused
from their negligence OF matters outside,
and pertaining to their own position, by
& shower of arrows, which laid one or
two of Mr.. Delorme's negroes cold, and
narrowly escaped doing the same uncalled
for favor for himself and Paul.
"Look out, Miss Stella. Crouch low,
Or an arrow may spoil your beauty"
said Paul, COOlly, as ne pushed her back;
and then, taking deliberate aim, knocked
over the nearest Indian TO him.
"Paul, you are very thoughtful, and
nero to boot. There's more in you than
thought there was" said Mr.. DeiOrme.
And now, aroused to action, he sent
couple of doses of buckshot from his gun
n among the Indians VINO were rushing
Up to cut down the gate. Several reeIed
Ind fell, for they were in close range;
lud as Paul and his men sent an addi-
ional vJlley the Indians recOiIed and fed
beyond the reach Of guns.
"Indian for niger, red for black, you
ievils," shouted Mr.. Delorme, whose
blood was now fairly up, for the flames
we're now licking up thousands of dollars
worth of property.
The Indians inside, who saw too late
hat they had only injured themselves by
DOSING the cattle from the pen, for the
u uriated beasts ran madly to and fro
bout the place, and kept the foe from
approaching the house in body, now be-
ian 20 shoot them down, and Mr.. De-
orme had to groan for his herds as well
Is his negroes.
But suddenly the shriu note of bugle
vas heard; and then coming in close
order, and at full speed, band of mounts
ID men approached. Taking the Indians
who had been repulsed from the gate in !
lank, they charged with loud yells, deliv-
,ring a rapid fire with t7eir isSix-
which sent the red lends fiy fng
over the plain. Then, wheeling, they